Inductors for induction welding of packaging materials

Abstract

An inductor (100) for induction welding of packaging material (101) having at least one layer of metal foil is disclosed. The inductor (100) includes a welding surface (102) configured to be placed opposite the packaging material (101) to heat the packaging material (101), and at least one spacer element (103, 103', 103'', 103''') arranged to protrude from the welding surface (102) toward the packaging material (101) in a first direction (104) when the packaging material (101) is placed opposite the welding surface (102), the at least one spacer element (103, 103', 103'', 103''') separating the packaging material (101) from the welding surface (102) by an offset distance (105). A sealing device for sealing the packaging material and a method for welding packaging material are also disclosed. [Selection diagram] Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of induction heating, and more particularly to an inductor, a sealing device, and a method for welding packaging material to seal a container of packaging material. [Background technology]

[0002] In the packaging industry, induction heating is used to weld laminated packaging materials. One example of such a laminated material is a support layer consisting of paper, aluminum foil, and a thermoplastic coating along the inner and outer surfaces of the laminate. The induction welding technique is based on the fact that a magnetic field around a conductor, generated by an alternating current, induces a current in adjacent conductive materials, which heats the materials according to their resistance. Therefore, in induction welding, an inductor loop or coil is provided on a laminate containing aluminum foil, and the laminate is pressed together with the materials to be joined. The aluminum foil is heated by an appropriately selected current and treatment time. The materials are heated to a temperature high enough to seal adjacent layers of thermoplastic resin, fusing the combined thermoplastic resin layers together and thus forming a tight and durable seal.

[0003] A common problem encountered in such sealing processes is inductor contamination, which is caused by the accumulation of packaging compound residues, such as polyethylene residue, on the activated weld surface of the inductor. The inductor is typically pressed against the packaging material to prevent variations in the electrical parameters of the inductive circuit formed between the inductor and the metal foil in the packaging material. Otherwise, variations in the impedance of the inductive circuit, for example, could affect the control of the sealing process and exceed an impedance threshold, resulting in a suboptimal packaging seal or process interruption. Furthermore, the accumulation of chemical residues necessitates frequent cleaning of the inductor, which increases wear and shortens its lifespan.

[0004] Therefore, an improved inductor would be advantageous, allowing for avoidance of many of the problems and compromises noted above, including, among other things, avoiding the buildup of chemical residues and extending the life of the inductor. Associated sealing devices for sealing the packaging material and methods for welding the packaging material would also be advantageous. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An example of the present invention seeks to preferably mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified defects, drawbacks or problems in the art by providing apparatus as set out in the appended claims, singly or in any combination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided an inductor for induction welding of packaging material having at least one layer of metal foil, the inductor comprising: a welding surface configured to be positioned against a packaging material to heat the packaging material; and at least one spacer element positioned to protrude from the welding surface in a first direction toward the packaging material when the packaging material is positioned against the welding surface, the at least one spacer element separating the packaging material from the welding surface by an offset distance.

[0007] According to a second aspect, there is provided a sealing apparatus for sealing packaging material, the sealing apparatus comprising an inductor according to the first aspect, wherein the packaging material is transported so as to be positioned opposite a welding surface of the inductor, and at least one spacer element is arranged to protrude from the welding surface in a first direction towards the packaging material, the at least one spacer element separating the packaging material from the welding surface by an offset distance while being transported within the sealing apparatus.

[0008] According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for welding a packaging material having at least one layer of metal foil with an inductor. The inductor has a welding surface configured to be positioned opposite the packaging material to heat the packaging material. The method includes conveying the packaging material over the welding surface at an offset distance from the welding surface by moving the packaging material over at least one spacer element positioned to protrude from the welding surface.

[0009] Further embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims, wherein the features of the second and third aspects of the disclosure relate to the first aspect mutatis mutandis.

[0010] Some examples of the present disclosure provide an inductor for induction welding of packaging material that is less susceptible to contamination by packaging material residue.

[0011] Some examples of the present disclosure provide an inductor for induction welding of packaging materials with extended life.

[0012] Some examples of the present disclosure provide an inductor for induction welding of packaging materials that requires less maintenance.

[0013] Some examples of the present disclosure provide inductors that improve the stability of electrical parameters of induction heating circuits.

[0014] Some examples of the present disclosure provide an inductor heating circuit that allows for improved control of the sealing process.

[0015] Some examples of the present disclosure provide for the formation of a more reliable seal on a packaging material container.

[0016] Some examples of the present disclosure provide increased throughput in induction seal forming lines.

[0017] It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" as used in this specification is used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components and groups thereof.

[0018] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of which examples of the invention are possible will become apparent from and be explained in the following description of examples of the invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an inductor for welding packaging material according to an example. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an inductor for welding packaging material according to an example. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a schematic side view of an inductor for welding packaging material according to an example; [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a schematic side view of an inductor for welding packaging material according to an example; [Figure 5] 1 is a flow chart of a method for welding packaging material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Specific examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. Rather, these examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the examples shown in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0021] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an inductor 100 for induction welding of packaging material 101 having at least one layer of metal foil. The inductor 100 includes a welding surface 102 configured to be positioned opposite the packaging material 101 to heat the packaging material 101. At least one spacer element 103, 103′, 103″, 103′″ is positioned to protrude from the welding surface 102 toward the packaging material 101 in a first direction 104 when the packaging material 101 is positioned opposite the welding surface 102. The at least one spacer element 103, 103′, 103″, 103′″ (hereinafter referred to as 103-103′″ for short) thereby separates the packaging material 101 from the welding surface 102 by an offset distance 105. By having at least one spacer element 103-103''' protrude from the welding surface 102, the packaging material 101 is prevented from contacting the welding surface 102 and is instead maintained at an offset distance 105 from the welding surface 102. This prevents residues from the packaging material 101 from accumulating on the welding surface 102, such as polyethylene residues that form due to the high temperatures to which the packaging material 101 is exposed. This has the advantage that less cleaning of the inductor 100 is required, thereby extending the maintenance intervals. At the same time, the at least one spacer element 103-103''' protruding from the welding surface 102 achieves stable characteristics of the electrical parameters of the induction circuit, since the packaging material 101 can be easily positioned relative to the at least one spacer element 103-103''' and thereby maintained at a clearly defined offset distance 105 from the welding surface 102. Such a defined separation minimizes the risk of fluctuations in the impedance of the induction heating circuit, thereby optimizing the control of the welding process. Therefore, the packaging sealing procedure can be made more reliable and completed in less time because the power supply to the inductor can be more precisely controlled due to the improved stability of the electrical properties involved in the process. The life of the inductor 100 can be extended due to optimized power control and reduced wear on the inductor.This is a result of reduced exposure to contaminants and, in part, due to reduced cleaning operations that contribute to the overall wear of the inductor 100. Thus, having at least one spacer element 103-103''' protrude from the welding surface 102 provides a more robust inductor with increased lifespan and improved control of the induction sealing process. The protrusion of at least one spacer element 103-103''' from the welding surface 102 should be interpreted as an extension from the plane in which the welding surface 102 of the inductor lies. That is, returning to FIG. 1 , for example, the spacer element 103 extends or protrudes beyond such plane (extending in the feed direction 107) in the first direction 104. In the example of FIG. 1 , the following is evident: the spacer element 103 may not abut the welding surface 102, but should be interpreted as protruding or extending from the welding surface 102 in the first direction 104 toward the packaging material 101, as discussed.

[0022] For example, as shown schematically in FIG. 1 , the at least one spacer element 103-103'" can include at least one roller 103-103'" pivotally fixed to the inductor 100 and rotatable about an axis of rotation 106, as further shown in the top-down view of the inductor 100 in FIG. 2 . The at least one roller 103-103'" is configured to transport the packaging material 101 across the welding surface 102 at an offset distance 105. By having the at least one roller 103-103'", the offset distance 105 having the above-described advantages is achieved while allowing efficient transport of the packaging material 101 across the welding surface 102 with minimal frictional forces exerted between the packaging material 101 and the welding surface 102. Thus, the at least one roller 103-103'" is free to rotate relative to the welding surface 102. However, it is also contemplated that the at least one spacer element 103-103''' may comprise a static, i.e., non-rotating, low-friction material that provides efficient sliding motion between the packaging material 101 and the at least one spacer element 103-103'''. While the at least one roller 103-103''' may provide advantages in providing minimal frictional force against the packaging material 101, the static spacer element 103-103''' provides an inductor 100 that requires minimal maintenance. The static spacer element 103-103''' may comprise a material that has a low coefficient of friction yet is highly resistant to contamination and abrasion. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the at least one static spacer element 103-103''' may be combined with at least one movable spacer element 103-103''' in a particular application of the inductor 100 to provide a balance between maintenance, manufacturing cost, and movability. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that other movable spacer elements 103-103''' may be provided, such as spherical elements that may rotate relative to the welding surface 102.

[0023] At least one roller 103-103''' may extend across at least half of the width 112 of the welding surface 102 in the direction of the rotation axis 106. This further ensures that the packaging material 101 is maintained at an offset distance 105 from the welding surface 102 and that the packaging material 101 can be effectively and reliably transported over the welding surface 102.

[0024] When positioned opposite the welding surface 102, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the welding surface 102 may have an elongated extension in the feed direction 107 in which the packaging material 101 is conveyed. The rotation axis 106 may extend parallel to the welding surface 102, i.e., in the plane of the welding surface 102, and perpendicular to the feed direction 107. Having the rotation axis 106 extending in the plane of the welding surface 102 further ensures that the packaging material 101 is maintained at a constant offset distance 105 across the welding surface 102. Having the rotation axis 106 extending perpendicular to the feed direction 107 exposes the packaging material 101 to minimal frictional forces from the at least one roller 103-103'''.

[0025] At least one roller 103-103''' may be disposed in a corresponding recess 108, 108', 108'', 108''' in the welding surface 102, as shown, for example, in the side view of Figures 1 and 3 or the perspective view of Figure 4. Disposing at least one roller 103-103''' in the recess makes it possible to select an optimized diameter of the roller 103-103''' in order to provide the desired dynamics of the relative movement between the roller 103-103''' and the packaging material 101, while allowing the offset distance 105 to be set to a desired value.

[0026] The inductor 100 may include at least one support 110 to which at least one roller 103-103''' is rotatably fixed, as shown schematically in FIG. 2 . At least one support 110 may be movably fixed to the inductor 100, thereby allowing it to move relative to the welding surface 102, such that the corresponding roller 103-103''' rotatably fixed to the support 110 has a variable position in a first direction 104 perpendicular to the welding surface 102 and the axis of rotation 106. Thus, the offset distance 105 can be easily varied and set to a range of values by moving the support 110 and the corresponding roller 103-103''' in the first direction 104 toward the packaging material 101. When multiple rollers 103-103''' are included, each of the rollers 103-103''' may be moved individually relative to one another to optimize the trajectory of the packaging material 101 across the welding surface 102. As mentioned above, it is also contemplated that, when having static spacer elements 103-103''', the positions of the static spacer elements 103-103''' in the first direction 104 may be adjusted individually.

[0027] At least one of the rollers 103-103''' may have a cylindrical surface coated with a resilient material (not shown). Such a resilient material accommodates slight movements of the packaging material 101 in the first direction 104, thereby damping vibrations that may occur in the packaging material 101 as it is conveyed over the welding surface 102. This provides improved stability of the trajectory of the packaging material 101 relative to the inductor 100 and further process stability with regard to the electrical characteristics of the induction heating circuit established via the magnetic coupling between the inductor 100 and the metal foil of the packaging material 101.

[0028] The inductor 100 may include a plurality of spacer elements 103, 103', 103'', 103''', as shown in Figures 1-4. The number of spacer elements 103-103''' can be selected depending on the particular application, which may determine various requirements, for example, regarding the dimensions of the inductor 100. Although Figures 1-4 show an example with four spacer elements 103-103''', i.e., four rollers 103-103''', in these examples, this should not be construed as limiting, but merely as an example of the number of spacer elements 103-103'''. It is therefore contemplated that the number of spacer elements may be greater or less than the number shown in the presented example, depending, for example, on the length of the inductor 100 in the feed direction 107. The plurality of spacer elements 103-103''' may be separated from one another by a set separation distance 109 determined such that the packaging material 101 remains separated from the welding surface 102 along the separation distance 109 when conveyed in the feed direction 107. Thus, the separation distance 109 is selected in a particular application so that the packaging material 101 does not contact the welding surface 102 between the spacer elements 103-103'". For example, the speed at which the packaging material 101 is conveyed in the feed direction 107 over the welding surface 102 may vary in various applications, as well as the properties of the packaging material itself. The properties of the packaging material itself may affect the amount of deflection of the packaging material 101 between the two spacer elements 103-103'". Thus, the separation distance 109 can be varied to accommodate such factors and prevent the packaging material 101 from deflecting and contacting the welding surface 102. It is also contemplated that the spacer elements 103-103'" may be movable in the feed direction 107, i.e., configured to be fixed at different separation distances 109, thereby substantially maintaining the offset distance 105 across the welding surface 102 while having a separation distance 109 that minimizes friction on the packaging material 101.

[0029] The plurality of spacer elements 103-103''' may comprise a plurality of rollers 103, 103', 103'', 103''', respectively positioned in corresponding recesses 108, 108', 108'', 108''' in the welding surface 102, as shown schematically in the example of Figures 1-4. Such a configuration provides a particularly advantageous inductor 100 having improved life and stable electrical characteristics of the induction heating circuit.

[0030] The at least one spacer element 103-103''' may be arranged such that when positioned opposite the welding surface 102, the offset distance 105 is substantially constant on the welding surface 102 along the feed direction 107 in which the packaging material 101 is conveyed. The constant offset distance 105 further provides for achieving optimal stability and control of the electrical parameters of the induction heating circuit.

[0031] At least one spacer element 103-103''' may be thermally insulated from the welding surface 102. Insulation should be interpreted as a reduction in thermal coupling between the at least one spacer element 103-103''' and the welding surface 102, such that the amount of heat power transferred therebetween is reduced. At least one spacer element 103-103''' can be thermally insulated from the welding surface 102 by placing an insulating material between the at least one spacer element 103-103''' and the welding surface 102, i.e., by placing a material with a lower heat transfer coefficient than the welding surface 102. Alternatively, the at least one spacer element 103-103''' may be separated from the welding surface 102, such as with at least one roller 103-103''', as shown in the example of FIGS. 1-4. The gap between the at least one roller 103-103''' and the welding surface 102 can be varied to achieve a desired amount of thermal insulation, thereby preventing the packaging material 101 from overheating when it contacts the at least one roller 103-103'''. This prevents the formation of compound residues, such as polyethylene, on the at least one roller 103-103'''.

[0032] At least one spacer element 103-103''' can be removably fixed to the inductor 100. This allows for efficient and easy maintenance and optimization of the at least one spacer element 103-103''' on the inductor 100. It is contemplated that the number of spacer elements 103-103''', e.g., the number of rollers 103-103''', may be changed as needed by removing or attaching the rollers 103-103''' from the inductor 100 depending on a particular application. This provides a high degree of customization of the inductor 100, and avoids the need to replace the entire inductor 100.

[0033] A sealing apparatus is provided for sealing a packaging material 101. The sealing apparatus includes an inductor 100 as described above in relation to Figures 1-4. In the sealing apparatus, the packaging material 101 is conveyed so that it is positioned opposite a welding surface 102 of the inductor 100, and at least one spacer element 103, 103', 103'', 103''' is positioned to protrude from the welding surface 102 in a first direction 104 toward the packaging material 101, the at least one spacer element 103-103''' separating the packaging material 101 from the welding surface 102 by an offset distance 105 while being conveyed through the sealing apparatus. This therefore provides a sealing apparatus with the advantages described above in relation to the inductor 100 and Figures 1-4.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method 300 for welding a packaging material 101 having at least one layer of metal foil with an inductor 100. The order in which the steps of the method 300 are described and illustrated should not be construed as limiting, and it is contemplated that the steps can be performed in various orders. The inductor 100 has a welding surface 102 configured to be positioned opposite the packaging material 101 to heat the packaging material 101. The method 300 includes conveying (301) the packaging material 101 over the welding surface 102 at an offset distance 105 from the welding surface 102 by moving (302) the packaging material 101 over at least one spacer element 103, 103′, 103″, 103′″ positioned to protrude from the welding surface 102. Thus, the method 300 for welding the packaging material 101 with the inductor 100 provides the associated advantages as described above with respect to the inductor 100 and FIGS. 1-4.

[0035] At least one spacer element 103-103''' may comprise a plurality of rollers 103, 103', 103'', 103'''. The method 300 may include advancing (303) the packaging material 101 on the rollers 103-103''' over the welding surface 102 to maintain an offset distance 105 between the packaging material 101 and the welding surface 102 along a feed direction 107 in which the welding surface 102 extends and in which the packaging material 101 is conveyed.

[0036] The present invention has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, other examples than those described are equally possible within the scope of the present invention. The different features and steps of the invention may be combined in other combinations than those described. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

[0037] More generally, those skilled in the art will readily understand that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary, and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on the particular application in which the teachings of the present invention are used.

Claims

1. An inductor (100) for induction welding of packaging material (101) having at least one layer of metal foil, comprising: a welding surface (102) configured to be positioned against the packaging material to heat the packaging material; at least two spacer elements (103, 103', 103'', 103''') arranged to protrude from the welding surface toward the packaging material in a first direction (104) when the packaging material is placed against the welding surface, separating the packaging material from the welding surface by an offset distance (105); each spacer element comprises at least one roller (103, 103', 103'', 103''') pivotally fixed to the inductor and rotatable about an axis of rotation (106), whereby the at least one roller is configured to convey the packaging material across the welding surface at the offset distance; Inductor (100).

2. 2. The inductor of claim 1, wherein the welding surface has an elongated extension in a feed direction (107) in which the packaging material is transported when placed opposite the welding surface, and the rotation axis extends parallel to the welding surface and perpendicular to the feed direction.

3. The inductor of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one roller is disposed in a corresponding recess (108, 108', 108'', 108''') in the welding surface.

4. 4. The inductor according to claim 1, comprising at least one support (110) to which the at least one roller is rotatably fixed, the at least one support being movable relative to the welding surface, so that the roller rotatably fixed to the support (110) has a variable position in the first direction perpendicular to the welding surface and the rotation axis.

5. Inductor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one roller comprises a cylindrical surface coated with an elastic material (111).

6. 6. The inductor of claim 1, comprising a plurality of spacer elements (103, 103', 103'', 103''') separated from one another by a set separation distance (109), the set separation distance (109) being determined such that the packaging material remains separated from the welding surface along the separation distance when conveyed in the feed direction.

7. 7. The inductor of claim 6, wherein the plurality of spacer elements comprise a plurality of rollers (103, 103', 103'', 103''') respectively disposed in corresponding recesses (108, 108', 108'', 108''') in the welding surface.

8. The inductor of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least two spacer elements are arranged such that the offset distance is substantially constant on the welding surface along a feed direction (107) in which the packaging material is transported when placed opposite the welding surface.

9. The inductor of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least two spacer elements are thermally insulated from the welding surface.

10. The inductor of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least two spacer elements are removably secured to the inductor.

11. 11. A sealing device for sealing a packaging material (101), comprising an inductor (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the packaging material is conveyed so as to be positioned opposite a welding surface (102) of the inductor, and at least two spacer elements (103, 103', 103'', 103''') are arranged to protrude from the welding surface in a first direction (104) towards the packaging material, the at least two spacer elements separating the packaging material from the welding surface by an offset distance (105) while being conveyed through the sealing device.

12. A method (300) for welding a packaging material (101) having at least one layer of metal foil with an inductor (100), the inductor having a welding surface (102) configured to be placed against the packaging material to heat the packaging material, the method comprising: conveying (301) the packaging material over the welding surface at an offset distance (105) from the welding surface by moving (302) the packaging material over at least one spacer element (103, 103', 103'', 103''') arranged to protrude from the welding surface; Including, wherein the at least one spacer element comprises a plurality of rollers (103, 103', 103'', 103'''), and the method comprises: advancing (303) the packaging material on the rollers over the welding surface to maintain the offset distance between the packaging material and the welding surface along a feed direction (107) in which the welding surface extends and in which the packaging material is conveyed; Including, Method (300).

13. A method (300) for welding a packaging material (101) having at least one layer of metal foil with an inductor (100), the inductor having a welding surface (102) configured to be placed against the packaging material to heat the packaging material, the method comprising: conveying (301) the packaging material over the welding surface at an offset distance (105) from the welding surface by moving (302) the packaging material over at least two spacer elements (103, 103', 103'', 103''') arranged to protrude from the welding surface; Including, each spacer element comprises at least one roller (103, 103', 103'', 103''') pivotally fixed to the inductor and rotatable about an axis of rotation (106), whereby the at least one roller is configured to convey the packaging material across the welding surface at the offset distance; Method (300).

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